A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Solié, Jean
SOLIÉ, Jean Pierre (real name Soulier), born at Nîmes, 1755, died in Paris Aug. 6, 1812, was one of the good singers and composers at the Opera Comique in its early days. The son of a cello-player he learnt that instrument, and had a good musical education at the Nîmes maitrîse, after which he played in the orchestra and taught singing till his début as a tenor in 1778. His success in the provinces tempted him to go to Paris, but he failed at first, in 1782, and remained away till after three years success in the largest theatre of Lyons. He was engaged in 1787 for the Opera Comique, where he remained, gradually making his way upwards to the first place in the company, especially after relinquishing the part of tenor de goût for that of baritone. The baritone was then a novelty, and Méhul wrote for Solié several parts which have since become identified with his name. He next tried his hand at composition, and with equal success, for his operas comiques number 33 in all, 'Jean et Geneviève' (1792) being the first, and 'Les Ménestrels' 3 acts (1811) the last. 'Le Jockey' (Jan. 6), 'Le Secret' (April 20, 1796), 'Le Chapitre Second' (June 17, 1799) in one act; and 'Le Diable a quatre' (Nov. 30, 1809), and 'Mademoiselle de Guise' in 3 (March 17, 1808), were published. Though this music is now entirely out of date, many of its pretty airs became favourites with the vaudeville writers, and were set to a variety of words. Several may be found in the 'Clef du Caveau.'
Solié had several sons; the eldest drowned himself in 1802; but Emile (born in Paris, 1801) published in 1847 two pamphlets on the Opéra Comique and Opéra, also some short biographies of French musicians. He left a son, Charles, who is a conductor, and produced at Nice in 1879 an opéra-comique, 'Scheinn Baba, ou l'intrigue du Harem,' 3 acts, the subject of which seems to have been borrowed from the 'Intrigue au Sérail.'